Carter: Race Plays Role in Obama Dislike - UPDATED: White House rejects racism claim

Race does play a small part. But in order to analyze it for validity we would have to know how many were opposed to Obama for racial reasons alone prior to the election and compare those to the number that oppose him now.

How much of it is based on "buyers remorse" as each perceived (A VERY IMPORTANT WORD THERE) promise has been broken?

How many are against his actions currently with Healthcare based on the perception of his actions on Bailout, part 2?

How much has party affiliation added to this? Pelosi and Frank are not exactly dear to the public right now either.

How much has the constant barrage of the race card by the media created a "soured" feeling towards Obama?

I can speak for myself when I say that one of my creeds is "That a man is a man until he proves himself otherwise." That covers race, class, origin, religion and orientation. So if I find that I "dislike" Obama because I feel he is untrustworthy in his actions thus far, does that make me a racist? Some would say that it does. In the end, I find nothing fires up a person's emotions as accusing them of something they are not.

Sure, President Carter, there are many racists out there that oppose Obama at every turn. There are many people out there that sum up your legacy by the Panama Canal too...the majority will say the Hostage Crisis, but some will call you out over the Panama Canal, being a Navy man and all.

History books will remember Obama as the first black President of the US. The real question is will it be racism or policies that make him the last black US President for a long time? As racist as that question sounds, it is a trick question. So answer carefully and with much thought before you answer.



[edit on 15-9-2009 by Ahabstar]

Originally posted by Gools

So to sum up, hating a republican and/or liberal because they are a republican and /or liberal is about as invalid and illegitimate as hating Obama because he's black?

If so, to what factor(s) are we (especially those looking in from the outside) to attribute all of the hatred we see today in US politics? \

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They are both wrong, but there is a BIG difference between them. Firstly, one CANNOT choose the colour of their skin, it is something they are born with. If I am born white, then I am white, I don't get to choose if I want to be black or yellow. Secondly, the colour of somebody's skin does not determine who they are as a person and what decisions they make. There are good white people, there are evil white people. There are good black people, there are evil black people. It is the choices they make and the way they decide to treat others that determines their character.

Belonging to a political party may be something you were born into, but you are able to leave or distance yourself from that party as you gain experience. When you do belong to a political party, it is assumed that you generally agree or support the general views of that party. (Not all but the general values of the party.)

So hating somebody because they are black does not make sense because it is something they were born into naturally. Hating somebody because they belong to a political party you oppose JUST because they belong to that party is not the same thing, but it is still illogical. This is about political factions, not race. As others have said there are people who do dislike him purely because he is black, but this is a minority.

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic

Did she feel that stating Mr. Sowell's race was relevant? Why? Because Obama is black, too? Because they usually stick together? Because they think alike? Because black people would sell out their beliefs to support "one of their own"?

Originally posted by Gools

Yeah... I'm not sure how to explain this kind of behaviour... anybody?

It was probably done to illustrate that his objections were not based on race (because he too is black). If you make it clear that the person who is opposed to a black man is a black man, the black man wont get accused of racism. Nothing to do with "Because black people would sell out their beliefs to support one of their own".

Do you see how you are trying to make this into a race issue when the chance of it actually being a race issue is close to zero?


[edit on 15/9/2009 by Dark Ghost]

Originally posted by Ahabstar
The real question is will it be racism or policies that make him the last black US President for a long time?

Another very interesting question...

but...

I think it presupposes there are many more candidates lurking in the wings to prove/disprove your point .. no?
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I don't think the race issue is responsible for the dislike of Obama. The majority of the opposition to him and his proposed programs are based on false rhetoric and proganda and not on the facts of the matters being debated. In other words people have been tricked into disliking him. Maybe his ethnicity makes it easier to do so.. Don't get me wrong there is probably 20% of our country that has always hated him because he is black. This rest are just hoodwinked.

The amount of opposition is overstated as well. It doesn't take that many people to make a public believe there is widespread outrage. For example publiciize some false images of the rally in DC and they will have you believe there was 2 million people instead of 100,000. Last time I looked the majority of the American public was still in favor of his policies. It's not real folks. Like someone said on another thread the other night, it's the empty can that makes the most noise.

We aren't going to be socialist or communist or suffer higher taxes (unless you make more than $250K) because we offer a low cost public healthcare option. If anything healthcare costs will stop rising astronomically. Get over it people and stop being tricked to act against yourselves. If healthcare reform would hurt your bottom line, then too bad, there will always be very good earning potential for those in the health care industry that offer quality, efficient care.

Imagine what we could do if all our decisions in policy weren't influenced primarily by profit? We could all have much more with a bunch less effort exerted by everyone. The smartest and the best would still have it better than everyone else but in this reality they would at least earn it. I'm damn tired of the crooked and the dishonest reaping the rewards of everyone else's hard labor and then bitching when they are asked to make up for it through higher taxes.

I do think taxes are too high but it has been shown lower taxes for the rich only encourage speculation which eventually ends in a bust and recession. Higher taxes on the rich are neccesary to keep the economy in balance, at least until we change our monetary system. You can have high leverage and high taxes and low leverage and low taxes, but high leverage and low taxes is a fatal combination. If our elected reps did the right things we could have lower taxes for everyone and still flourish.

reply to post by Gools


I would propose that there is no end of politicians that think of the presidency as little more than a capstone to their political career, much like the senior thesis project in college, before heading on to either a career in their field, father's business or graduate studies.

Although for politicians it seems to be an appointment from a future president, lobbyist/speaking engagements or Supreme Court (which is also an appointment, but still in there putting it to the people)

At this time, I can not think of a likely presidential candidate in the near future that is also black. However the 2012 election is very much still up in the air, and 2010 midterms may show a break from the two party system.

edit for bad grammar


[edit on 15-9-2009 by Ahabstar]

reply to post by Gools


Carter always was wrong.

Americans like to elect people then criticise their every move. Its our national sport. It has nothing to do with race but everything to do with honesty, intelligence, beneficence, and the Constitution.

Carter was white, and we criticised him too (duh).

[edit on 15-9-2009 by Chakotay]

Originally posted by Gools

Originally posted by skeptic1
If this was a black conservative in the Oval Office, would racism be blamed for disagreements with the administration?

Now there is an interesting question...
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[edit on 15 Sep 09 by Gools]

That is a darn good question.

Wouldn't he be called an uncle Tom?

I have to admit that people seem very hostile, but I don't think it is just about Obama, I believe it is a number of factors.

You have to look at the whole picture.

reply to post by Chakotay


I don't know, it might be fun to read what all people would say about me if I were in the big chair, especially on ATS Then again, maybe not. It just so happens that you can see what looks like the Masonic Compass and Square on my right palm.



Although I would argue that we elect the person that does the best job of belittling the other one, then we find out how stupid that person is. Reagan being the master of the sound bite. How many political cartoonist depicted Reagan as a geriatric Superman?



[edit on 15-9-2009 by Ahabstar]

reply to post by mental modulator

So does calling him a sort of Hitler, Stalin, Muslim, Homosexual, Non citizen, Arab, Terrorist, Fascist, etc... margarita ---------

Same thing with Death Panels -

Worrying about some of those things is valid, others are not.

Whatever

2nd line



[edit on 15-9-2009 by j2000]

Four pages of replies in under 4 hours and only 6 flags and 5 stars eh?

Interesting.

I guess this is not an important topic on ATS or anywhere else at the moment.

Not that I'm fishing mind you, just making an observation about what types of threads make it to the top of the ATS pages lately.
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edit: spelling

[edit on 15 Sep 09 by Gools]

Whatever

2nd line




[edit on 15-9-2009 by j2000]

reply to post by Gools


Hey, it is more flags than my last three threads combined. One of which was for the short story contest. But honestly I am happy when I generate more than 4 replies, let alone 4 pages of replies.

Originally posted by j2000

So I guess if I am a white guy and don't like what Obama does, I am a racist.
Wow, I didn't see that one coming.

See right there is the problem ...

Who on earth ever accused you of being racist on this thread?

Yet you choose to act as if someone did ...
It's like walking into a cocktail party saying "I didn't murder anyone last night."

Defensive much?


[edit on 15 Sep 2009 by schrodingers dog]

Whatever

2nd line

[edit on 15-9-2009 by j2000]

Don't feed the trolls.

Please stay on topic.
.

What ever

2nd line

[edit on 15-9-2009 by j2000]

reply to post by j2000


I expect people to address the topic at hand rather than attack the person making the comments.

Your posts are off topic and I suggest you cease and desist your ad hominem tactics post haste.
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Does it play some role? That's undeniable. There are racists in every ethnic group in this country, but I think the degree to which racism is a factor is significantly less than the ones pushing that charge want to believe. Indeed, I think that a good number of his supporters would much rather play the race card at every possible opportunity than to accept the fact that there are plenty of valid ideological reasons why Obama has such vocal opposition. In that sense, the charge of 'racism' is the equivalent of the 'socialist' label applied to this administration and its supporters. Its nothing more than an attempt to immediately defeat an opposing argument with a soundbyte that requires no thought or effort on the part of the accuser.

Originally posted by Gools
Four pages of replies in under 4 hours and only 6 flags and 5 stars eh?

Interesting.

I guess this is not an important topic on ATS or anywhere else at the moment.

I think Gools that you'll find that it might have to do with the article title.

I believe that many of us are tired at the avalanche of race related threads and mostly tune out automatically when we see them pop up. Probably the same across the country ... probably a good thing.

Shame really, especially since in this case, some reasoned and valid discourse has been born of it.

For what it's worth I gave you a pity flag.